By Uher H.R. No. 344
77R6797 MMS-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of J. Donald Bowen of Abilene and
1-2 Houston on March 3, 2000, has brought a sense of profound loss to
1-3 the family and many friends of this exceptional man; and
1-4 WHEREAS, A nationally known plaintiffs' attorney, Don Bowen
1-5 was born in San Angelo on September 20, 1944; although he
1-6 subsequently did most of his work in Houston, he maintained his
1-7 home in Abilene, where he was raised; for many years he was a
1-8 valued member of Abilene's Highland Church of Christ; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen received a bachelor's degree from Abilene
1-10 Christian University in 1967 and a J.D., cum laude, from The
1-11 University of Texas School of Law in 1970; while a law student he
1-12 was inducted into Phi Delta Phi, an international legal fraternity,
1-13 and the Order of the Coif, a prestigious honorary society; his
1-14 diligence and academic achievements also earned him the position
1-15 of case note editor on the Texas Law Review; and
1-16 WHEREAS, Following graduation, Mr. Bowen worked in the trial
1-17 section of Baker and Botts in Houston for three years before
1-18 joining the firm that became Helm, Pletcher, Bowen and Saunders; he
1-19 served as managing partner of the latter firm from 1984 onward; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen steadily gained recognition as one of the
1-21 most successful civil trial attorneys in the country; he
1-22 represented clients in a number of high-stakes cases, including a
1-23 suit by Exxon against its insurers after the Exxon Valdez oil
1-24 spill; in that litigation Mr. Bowen, as lead counsel, won a
2-1 substantial verdict in behalf of the oil company, which was seeking
2-2 compensation for massive clean-up costs; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen brilliantly and steadfastly represented
2-4 working people throughout the United States, handling some 450
2-5 claims a year as longtime designated counsel for the United
2-6 Transportation Union; more recently, he was instrumental in pulling
2-7 together trial lawyers from all over the country to litigate in
2-8 behalf of many thousands of Americans injured by the diet drug
2-9 Fen-Phen; shortly before his passing Mr. Bowen went to court in a
2-10 Texas suit related to this drug and won a substantial settlement
2-11 for his client; and
2-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen was certified by the Texas Board of Legal
2-13 Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and by the National
2-14 Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate; he was admitted
2-15 to the Texas Bar in 1970 and was also admitted to practice in the
2-16 United States district courts for the Southern, Western, Northern,
2-17 and Eastern districts of Texas; and
2-18 WHEREAS, Among the numerous professional groups to which he
2-19 belonged were The College of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar
2-20 Foundation, American Board of Trial Advocates, and Academy of Rail
2-21 Labor Attorneys; and
2-22 WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan served as president of the
2-23 Texas Trial Lawyers Association and as a member of the Pepperdine
2-24 University School of Law Board of Visitors; he was a Fellow of the
2-25 American College of Trial Lawyers, and his name was repeatedly
2-26 listed in The Best Lawyers in America; and
2-27 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen relished challenges outside of the
3-1 courtroom as well as within: a former college football lineman in
3-2 spite of his relatively light weight, he found rejuvenation in
3-3 running marathons and competed in the Boston Marathon on several
3-4 occasions; for relaxation he also loved retreating to the quiet
3-5 simplicity of his ranch in Coke County; and
3-6 WHEREAS, The integrity, courage, and loyalty that Don Bowen
3-7 displayed throughout his life, together with his erudition,
3-8 virtuoso legal skills, and unequivocal commitment to his clients,
3-9 gained for him the enormous respect and affection of his family,
3-10 friends, and associates, and the spirit of this good man will
3-11 surely live on in the hearts of all he so deeply touched; now,
3-12 therefore, be it
3-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-14 Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of J. Donald
3-15 "Don" Bowen and extend sincere sympathy to his family: to his
3-16 wife, Latimer Bowen; to his daughter and son-in-law, Ashley Bowen
3-17 Mayo and Todd Mayo; to his sons, Watson Bowen and Shane Bowen; to
3-18 his mother, Jo Bowen; to his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew,
3-19 Donna Bowen, Steve Stiles, and Michael Hughes; and to the many
3-20 others who held him dear; and, be it further
3-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-22 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-23 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-24 J. Donald Bowen.